Discover More from This Author: Polly

Governor Scott, DMV announce restart for driver’s license, learner’s permit tests

June 3, 2020
Governor Phil Scott and the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) announced Monday, June 1, a restart plan for resuming driver’s license tests and a new service for Vermonters to receive their learner’s permit online as the state begins limited resumption of services paused due to Covid-19. “As operations and services come back online, the DMV…

Florist donates $1,000 to BROC

June 3, 2020
RUTLAND—Tom Donahue, CEO at BROC Community Action safely received a donation of $1,000 from Jerry Henrichon, owner of Park Place Florist and Garden Center in Rutland. The florist raised the funds recently for the BROC Community Food Shelf by dedicating a portion of every sale that day. “The community has been both creative and generous in supporting others in…

Impossible odds

June 3, 2020
By Gary Salmon At first I didn’t even notice it nestled under the root flare of a big white pine stump cut several years ago. But the idea of a white pine seedling growing while being sheltered by its larger former self was too much to ignore. The little 2-inch tall white pine seedling germinated…

Amazing care from an incredible Vermont family

June 3, 2020
By Merisa Sherman All I did was pull into the Kent Pond parking lot, moving from the paved apron and onto the extremely dry crushed rock. My mountain bike slipped out from underneath me and I found myself floating slow motion through the air. My left hand hit the ground and I saw my lower…

Rockin the Region with Andrew “Silas” Prior

June 3, 2020
By DJ Dave Hoffenberg It’s going to be a while before we can see live music in person once again. Even when it is eventually allowed, the best it will be is semi-normal. Online shows are the new thing and everyone is doing them. What caught my attention for this article is Silas McPrior who…

Survey says…

June 3, 2020
By Dom Cioffi I received an email recently from a metropolitan arena where I’ve seen numerous concerts and sporting events through the years. At some point, they got ahold of my email address, likely for ticketing or venue info, and now they semi-frequently send me marketing materials to further entice me into returning. However, this…

How to rescue small businesses

June 3, 2020
By Kevin Theissen In April, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (FRBNY) surveyed U.S. small businesses. It reported, late in 2019, before the coronavirus crisis, 35% were healthy, 35% were stable, 23% were at risk, and 6% were in distress. Having a majority of healthy and stable small companies is a positive economic sign…

Star-nosed mole: a nose that knows

June 3, 2020
The Outside Story By Susie Spikol Some people have life birds, species of birds they’ve waited their whole lives to see in the wild. I don’t have one of these, but I do have a life mole. I’ve been waiting to catch a glimpse of Condylura cristata, the star-nosed mole, ever since I learned about…

Goodbye, for now

June 3, 2020
I had already been working as an astrologer for 20 years when I got invited to write this weekly column. It started out as a radio broadcast on WEBK, in Killington, Vermont. It morphed into a newspaper piece when the radio show folded and people wrote in asking if maybe the Mountain Times would run…

Living among snakes

June 3, 2020
As spring continues to unfurl in our region, biological cues are sending snakes across roadways and hiking trails and into the lawns and backyards of many Vermonters, according to the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department. With the onset of longer days and warmer temperatures, many snakes have emerged from their winter dens to bask in…

June is adopt-a-shelter-cat month 

June 3, 2020
The Rutland County Humane Society (RCHS) would like to remind you that June is “Adopt-A-Shelter-Cat Month.” Every year at RCHS we care for nearly 800 cats and kittens and they are all looking for loving homes. There are many benefits to adopting a cat and before you know it they’ve become members of your family! Cats are…

Eat outside!

June 3, 2020
The following restaurants are open for open-air dining in Killington As Gov. Scott continues to loosen the spigot on social gatherings, area restaurants have adapted with outdoor seating. Here are the locations on Killington Road offering on-site dining. Call ahead to order and reserve seating. Lookout Tavern: Deck Daze have begun. Open 12-8 p.m., Friday…

Tips for enjoying outdoor dining safely and respectfully

June 3, 2020
Yes! Restaurant patios are open at 50% capacity. This is a new world though. You’re most likely going to a restaurant that threw together a patio in hopes of making some money. The building was not designed for this. They are trying their best, but everything may not be perfect. Eating in the streets is…

Shop downtown Rutland, get free pizza

June 3, 2020
RUTLAND—Locally-owned in downtown Rutland for 37 years, Domino’s Pizza is giving back to those who support small businesses as they reopen. Starting June 1, customers making a purchase at any locally-owned-and-operated business in the district and get a free medium 1-topping pizza. To order, customers call the store for carryout and say that they have…

Rotary celebrates VT/NH “opening” with Stayin’ Alive Disco Gala to benefit local restaurants

June 3, 2020
Saturday, June 6 at 7:30 p.m.—Rotary Clubs in both southern Vermont and southern New Hampshire have busy the past few months since the pandemic struck with projects to help food pantries and those in need, so the anticipated announcement by Governors in both states that each state may “open” more so at the end of…